John Coulter (politician) explained

John Coulter
Office:4th Leader of the Australian Democrats
Deputy:Meg Lees
Term Start:2 October 1991
Term End:29 April 1993
Predecessor:Janet Powell
Successor:Cheryl Kernot
Office1:4th Deputy Leader of the
Australian Democrats
Term Start1:24 March 1990
Term End1:2 October 1991
Predecessor1:Michael Macklin
Successor1:Meg Lees
Office2:Senator for South Australia
Term Start2:11 July 1987
Term End2:20 November 1995
Successor2:Natasha Stott Despoja
Birth Name:John Richard Coulter
Birth Date:1930 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Spouse:
    Party:Independent (after 2001)
    Otherparty:Democrat (until 2001)
    Children:2
    Education:Wesley College
    Alma Mater:University of Western Australia
    University of South Australia
    Occupation:General practitioner
    (Royal Adelaide Hospital)
    (Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science)
    Profession:Physician
    Politician

    John Richard Coulter (born 3 December 1930) is an Australian medical researcher and former politician. He was the fourth elected parliamentary Senate leader of the Australian Democrats, serving from 2 October 1991 to 29 April 1993.[1]

    In his first speech, he criticised the failure of presently used economic indexes to measure the right things, such as the inclusion of costs as benefits in the measurement of GDP, and the absence of a national capital account giving a misleading impression of becoming richer by squandering natural capital and turning it into cash, which is then frittered away without turning it back into capital. He argued that correcting these misleading indices would reveal the paths toward ecological sustainability and a more humane society.[2]

    In his valedictory speech, he took up the case that economic growth is not sustainable and that ‘economic rationalism’ (neo-classical economics) is an ideology blind to empirical evidence.[3]

    His understanding of conservation and environment principles was exceptional for the time.[4] [5] One of Dr. Coulter's controversial concerns was the social and economic impact of population growth.[6] [7]

    Coulter was born in Perth, Western Australia. He gained a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree at the University of Adelaide. He became a medical practitioner and researcher, and was also a university lecturer.[8]

    He was a member of Campbelltown Council in Adelaide during 1973–74. In 1980 he joined the Democrats.

    He first took office in the Senate in 1987, representing South Australia, and resigned from the Senate on 20 November 1995, due to ill health. Natasha Stott Despoja was appointed as his replacement three days later, having earlier been employed by him as a researcher.

    In 1999, he was publicly critical of Meg Lees's leadership of the Democrats, especially of her handling of the Goods and Services Tax legislation. He believed Stott Despoja would make a better leader, and was working towards that goal, which she in fact attained in April 2001.

    However, a week before the November 2001 federal election, Coulter resigned from the party because he believed Stott Despoja had reduced internal party democracy. He said she had taken the party further away from the grassroots, that it had become pragmatic, and that he could not recommend that people vote for the party.

    References

     

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Australian Democrats . 1 January 2022 . Australian Democrats : our history . 11 May 2024 . Australian Democrats : our history.
    2. Budget statement and papers 1987-88. Parliament of Australia. Senate. 21 September 1987. John Coulter (politician). 398.
    3. Adjournment : Senator Coulter : retirement. Parliament of Australia. Senate. 20 November 1995. John Coulter politician. 3364.
    4. Web site: Martin . Brian . 1 July 1992 . Intellectual suppression: why environmental scientists are afraid to speak out, . 2024-05-11 . documents.uow.edu.au.
    5. Web site: Conservation Council SA . Green Adelaide . South Australia. Dept. for Environment and Water . University of Adelaide. Environment Institute . 1 January 2024 . Dr John Coulter . 2024-05-11 . SA Environment Hall of Fame.
    6. Web site: CSIRO Media . CSIROpedia . 22 April 2008 . Population : the lost priority . 11 May 2024 . CSIROpedia.
    7. Web site: Coulter . John . Bradshaw . Corey . Conservation Bytes . 2015-04-12 . How things have (not) changed . 2024-06-05 . ConservationBytes.com . en-GB.
    8. coulter-john-richard . COULTER, John Richard (1930–) . Jenny Tilby . Stock . 21 December 2022.